A big thanks for the BCS

January 7, 2014

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Thank you for the bizarre, what-if moments: the underthrown Nick Marshall pass to a wide open Ricardo Louis that cost Auburn a walk-in touchdown on the first drive of the game; an Auburn missed field goal; an Auburn stat sheet that showed the Tigers ahead on everything -- first downs, rushing yards, total yards, total plays, third-down conversions, sacks, time of possession -- except points.

"Obviously, we're going to look back and say, 'We could have done this, could have done that,'" Auburn tight end C.J. Uzomah said. "This is going to sting."

Sting? It's going to leave a bruise that might take years to heal.

Thank you for Tre Mason's 195 rushing yards, the highest total by a running back in a BCS Championship. His response as he stood in the somber Auburn locker room?

"It would be a lot better if I was holding up the crystal ball," he said.

Thank you for a game and a final drive worth remembering.

Thank you for FSU wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who said of his game-winning reception: "[It] just makes it a memory we'll never forget."

As the goal posts were lowered and the confetti machines were positioned and T-shirts were handed out to FSU's players, a silver-haired, slightly hunched-over man emerged from the Rose Bowl press box elevator.

His name was Roy Kramer, and two decades ago, as the SEC commissioner, he helped create the BCS Championship.

"A great ballgame," Kramer said. "The way the national championship should be."

"The way the last BCS game should be?" I said.

Kramer paused and glanced up.

"Yes, sir," he said.

And then he disappeared into the crowd as they poured from the Rose Bowl tunnels. Nobody stopped him to say thank you.

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